An Alternative to DrawNames
DrawNames Alternative
Secret Santa Hat draws names online with no email address for any participant, no account, and nothing to download. It is a separate site from DrawNames, and this page sets out what it does.
How Drawing Names Works Here
- 1
Add the names
Type them in or paste a list. If you would rather not collect names yourself, share one join link and let everyone add their own.
- 2
Set the rules
Mark the pairs who should not draw each other, such as couples or whoever swapped last year. The draw works around every rule you add.
- 3
Hand out the links
Each person gets their own link. Send it however you like: by email at no cost, or paste it into a group chat. No one has to give you an email address to take part.
- 4
Everyone draws from their own phone
Each person opens their link and draws at any time. No one draws themselves, and the organizer can see who has drawn and who has not.
What Is Different About Secret Santa Hat
Most name-drawing sites are built around the email address: one per person before anything can happen. This one is built around the link.
No email address required
A participant needs a link and nothing else. If you do have addresses, sending everyone their link by email is free, or the links can be pasted into a group chat.
No account for anyone
The organizer does not sign up and neither does anyone else. A free account exists for people who want their groups kept in one place, and no feature requires it.
Rules for who cannot draw whom
Couples, housemates, the pairs from last year. Add as many rules as you need, and the generator refuses to hand out an invalid draw rather than quietly producing a broken one.
Wishlists, or four quick questions
After the draw, everyone can list what they would like, with photos, or answer four short questions for people who do not write a list.
Works as an app
Add it to your home screen and the name you drew and their wishlist stay readable with no signal. Nothing to download from an app store.
Free to use
Unlimited groups and participants, the rules, the links, the wishlists and email invites cost nothing. One optional upgrade exists for a single group, and everything above stays free without it.
Questions People Ask When Comparing
No. DrawNames is a separate company and a separate site, and Secret Santa Hat is not affiliated with it in any way. This page sets out what Secret Santa Hat does, for comparison.
No. Each person takes part through their own link, which you can send by email if you have an address or paste into any chat if you do not. Nothing about the draw depends on email.
There is no import. Create the group here, add the names, set any rules, and draw. It takes about two minutes for a group of ten.
Add a rule for any pair who should not match and the draw routes around them, however many pairs there are. If your rules leave no valid draw at all, it reports that before anyone draws rather than handing out a broken one.
There is no limit. Groups run on Secret Santa Hat have gone past 280 people, and a group of three works exactly the same way. Past a dozen or so, share one join link instead of typing everyone in.
No. Groups, participants, rules, personal links, wishlists and email invites are free, with no trial and no card. There is one optional paid upgrade, for a single group, and the free plan is the whole product without it.
What People Say
Comments left with a rating on the site